Photo credit: Amanda Schwengel
When wildfires interrupted many recreational activities in 2020, MSU Denver alumnus Josh Thurmond (pictured left) set to work preserving one of Colorado’s most cherished experiences: the campfire. His LavaBox, a portable fire pit, is among a growing list of products that provide the appeal of gathering around an open flame without risking safety when conditions raise the possibility of wildfires.“I thought if I want people to adopt this idea and not burn Colorado down, I’ll have to both make it good and put a rock ’n’ roll idea around it,” said Thurmond.Within months of marketing the invention, he had sold 4,000 units — and business is still heating up. Read the full story in RED to learn more about Thurmond’s entrepreneurial adventure and the growing alternative-campfire industry.